As to little Mara, she had run down to the beach, and stood so near the sea, that every dash of the tide-wave forced her little feet to tread an inch backward, stretching out her hands eagerly toward the schooner, which was standing straight toward the small wharf, not far from their door. Already she could see on deck figures moving about, and her sharp little eyes made out a small personage in a red shirt that was among the most active. Soon all the figures grew distinct, and she could see her grandfather's gray head, and alert, active form, and could see, by the signs he made, that he had perceived the little blowy figure that stood, with hair streaming in the wind, like some flower bent seaward. And now they are come nearer, and Moses shouts and dances on the deck, and the Captain and Mrs. Pennel come running from the house down to the shore, and a few minutes more, and all are landed safe and sound, and little Mara is carried up to the house in her grandfather's arms, while Captain Kittridge stops to have a few moments' gossip with Ben Halliday and Tom Scranton before they go to their own resting-places. Meanwhile Moses loses not a moment in boasting of his heroic exploits to Mara. "Oh, Mara! you've no idea what times we've had! I can fish equal to any of 'em, and I can take in sail and tend the helm like anything, and I know all the names of everything; and you ought to have seen us catch fish! Why, they bit just as fast as we could throw; and it was just throw and bite,--throw and bite,--throw and bite; and my hands got blistered pulling in, but I didn't mind it,--I was determined no one should beat me." "Oh! did you blister your hands?" said Mara, pitifully. "Oh, to be sure! Now, you girls think that's a dreadful thing, but we men don't mind it. My hands are getting so hard, you've no idea. And, Mara, we caught a great shark." "A shark!--oh, how dreadful! Isn't he dangerous?" "Dangerous! I guess not. We served him out, I tell you. He'll never eat any more people, I tell you, the old wretch!" "But, poor shark, it isn't his fault that he eats people. He was made so," said Mara, unconsciously touching a deep theological mystery. "Well, I don't know but he was," said Moses; "but sharks that we catch never eat any more, I'll bet you." "Oh, Moses, did you see any icebergs?" "Icebergs! yes; we passed right by one,--a real grand one." "Were there any bears on it?" "Bears! No; we didn't see any." "Captain Kittridge says there are white bears live on 'em." "Oh, Captain Kittridge," said Moses, with a toss of superb contempt; "if you're going to believe all _he_ says, you've got your hands full." "Why, Moses, you don't think he tells lies?" said Mara, the tears actually starting in her eyes. "I think he is _real_ good, and tells nothing but the truth." "Well, well, you are young yet," said Moses, turning away with an air of easy grandeur, "and only a girl besides," he added.